Nelson s



(No Model.)

N s. 'BOWD'ISH.

PH'OTOGRAPHERS PLATE HOLDER.

No. 355,056. Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

n. Painsv Pmwuma n w, washingianflglcn UNITED STATES PATENT OrricE.

NELSON S. BOWDISH, OF SKANEATELES, NElV YORK.

PHOTOGRAPH ERS PLATE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,056, dated December28, 1886.

Application filed January 5, 1586. Serial No. 187,659. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

I Beit known that I, NELSON S.'BOWDISH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Skaneateles, in the county of Onondaga, State of 5 New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PhotographersPlatelloldcrs, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to photographers plate-holders, the objectbeing to provide a, holder in which the plates can be readily inserted,completely excluded from the light, and conducted from a dark room orother place to the camera, readily exposed to the action of the lightpassing through the lens of the camera, and again excluded from thelight and conducted to the dark room to be subj ected to the usualchemical processes for development; and the invention consists incertain features of construction hereinafter described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a perspective, and Fig. 2 alongitudinal vertical section, of a plate-holder embodying my invention.Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of one of the side rails of theframe. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the shutters, and Fig. 5 alongitudinal vertical section of one of the plate-holders proper. I

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A A represent the side rails of the frame proper, each of which rails islongitudinally grooved upon its inner face to form outer channels, A,for the reception of the covers or slides B, and a groove, A", for thereception of a strip, 0, preferably of metal, by which the intermediatespace is divided into two channels, D. The upper cross-piece, E,similarly grooved, extends from one side rail to the other, which, inconnection with a cappiece, F, forms a chamber, G, in which shutters H Hare arranged aud adapted to press outwardly against the inner surfacesof the cover or slides B. The lower end of the frame proper is leftopen, so as to receive and he closed by devices hereinafter described. 7

As usual in thisclass of devices, the slides B are of comparativelylight material, either wood, sheet metal, or paper, and for this reasonthey are apt to warp, bend, or otherwise become misshapcd, so that theirlower edge is with difficulty received by the groove Iin the lowercrossbar I of the frame proper. In order to facilitate the entrance ofthelower edge of the slide 13 into said groove I form the upper edge ofthe cross-bar I so that the same acts to guide a warped or misshapedslide into the slot 1. formed therein, the principal feature ofconstruction in this regardbeing that the corners of the slide while inthe groove A are directed into the groove I, while the central part ofthe lower edge of the slide is further guidedinto said grove I bycutting away, either on straight or curved lines, the crossbar I, sothat the upper edges of said bar shall act to guide the slide end,working from each corner towards its center, into the groove 1. The

curved line 1 Fig. 1, indicates the outline given to the upper edge ofthe crossbar I for the purpose described. I consider this feature ofconstruction one of the important features of my invention, and capableof being used in plate-holders otherwise differing from that hereinshown and described. Cross-bars or pieces J serve to cover the recess orchamber G and to complete the outline of the frame proper.

Within the recess J, and extending from side to side of the frame, is abar or rod, K, which serves as the pivot or point of attachment to theframework of a series of coiled springs, L, one terminal of each springin the series projecting from one side of the rod,

while the opposite end of the same springs in the series projects fromthe opposite side of the rod, and the terminals of all" the springsprojecting from one side are inserted into the edge of and arranged topress against a wooden strip, M, which is backed by cloth, leather, orothersuitable material, N, extendingfrom end to end of said strips M,and, if desired, over said rod from one strip to another to serve as ahinge connection.

Now, in order to give suitable flexibility to the strips M, they arescored or, it may be, separated at intervals across the same, as at O.The scored or separated wooden strips, backed with textile or otherfabric and mounted upon springs, as above described, constitute theshutters of the holder, their operation being as well understood fromthe description, such that the shutter upon each side of the shaft isforced outwardly or upwardly against the slide, so that the entrance oflight between the under surface of the slide and the slot in the end ofthe frame through which it passes is prevented. As before stated, theseslides, being of light material, are apt to become misshaped or bent, soas to admit light at the upper end of the frame, and for this reason itbecomes necessary that the shutters should be adapted to automaticallyconform themselves to the irregularities of the slides. This isaccomplished in the manner above described, and the constructiondetailed I consider an other important feature of my invention.

The holder proper comprises a box or receptacle, I, adapted to ride inthe recesses D, formed in the rails of the framework. In this instance Ihave shown two holders I, but itis evident that a frame embodying myimprovements may be constructed so as to receive but a single holder.The holders 1? comprise in their make-up across-bar, P, which is adaptedto closetheopeningin theloweren'doftheframe proper when insertedtherein, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A thumb-hole I" is formed in thecross-barI to facilitate the withdrawal of the holders. \Vithin theholder 1? is acleat- P upon which is flexibly mounted a flap, P, which,in this instance, consists of a strip of wood, transversely scored ornot, as desired, covered by any suitable fabric, and extended over andsecured to the eleat I. An inwardly projecting flange, P, at theopposite end ofthe holder is employed, said opposite end beingpreferably slightly beveled, as shown at I, Fig. 6, to facilitate itsentrance into the groove D, formed in the cross-rail.

It is readily apparent that the plate may be placed in the holder byinserting one end thereof under the flange P and the opposite end belowthe flap P", said shutter being turned upon its hinge to permit of theinsertion of the plate and afterward returned to position to perform itsfunctions of preventing access of light through the joints between theparts constituting the lower end of the frame and holding a sensitizedplate in place. In this instance two holders P are employed, and, asusual, arearranged back to back within the frame, so that the platestherein may be exposed by drawing either of the slides B up wardly orout of the frame in the usual manner. By this construction I produce aplateholder which is compact and strong, yet light and portable, andwhich serves the function of excluding light from the sensitized plateswithin the holder, while at the same time irregularities in the slidesare prevented from disarranging the shutters and are automatically andpositively guided into all ofthe slots adapted to receive the same.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claimi-3- 1. The frame A, grooved as at A, I, and A and cut away as at I andhaving a strip, 0, inserted in the groove A", and provided with thecrossbar E, in combination with the slide B and plate-holders I,substantially as specified.

2. A shutter for a photographers plateholder, comprisingatransversely-scorcd strip and a textile backing, substantially asspeci- Witnesses:

XV. F. GREGORY, Josnrrr O. WILLE'r'rs.

